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Steroid treatment making me worse

Posted , 7 users are following.

carmarie
carmarie

I have redness and soreness around my anal area and the creases of my buttocks and my doctor reckons it is Lichen Sclerosis and gave me steroid cream. Also burning around the vulval area after sex. I tried the cream which worked at first, but now I am finding it makes my skin very tight and the redness is still there. I have a gynae appointment soon, but am not convinced I have LS. I find the redness starts after a hot flush and when the area gets damp. Has anyone got any advice to give me? I have just rubbed on e45 to moisturise as I was sat on a bus for 2 hours and the redness flared up (tight panty line from sitting down for so long). The slightest thing seems to set off the redness and burning. Any advice appreciated. Thanks

 

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • suzanne00
    suzanne00 carmarie

    Posted

    Hi Carmarie--Wondering if the doctors have considered a fungal infection.  If the skin has fungus, the steroids definitely would be making it worse.  Dampness also would lead to a flare with a fungal infection. Good luck!  --Suzanne
    • carmarie
      carmarie suzanne00

      Posted

      Treated me for fungal before anything else but it wasn't that thanks Suzanne
  • wendy14679
    wendy14679 carmarie

    Posted

    Hi Carmarie,

    I would strongly advise you to keep both areas well moisturised.   With a bit of luck you may not have LS.  Do you have any itching?  Good luck with your gynae appointment!

    • carmarie
      carmarie wendy14679

      Posted

      No itching Wendy. I was looking at patient uk and wondered if it could be contact dermatitis so just bought someDermalex cream from Boots to keep moisturised. I one of these people allergic to perfume stuff but I just wash my pants in hot water now. Wash the rest of stuff in Persil so hope it isn't that. Don't use soaps or shower gels perfumed or perfume.

       

  • Morrell1951
    Morrell1951 carmarie

    Posted

    Let's hope the diagnosis was wrong. One thing a number of women here have found is that the steroid cream has a base tht irritates quite a few of us where the ointment does not. I was able to ask the pharmacist for the ointment even though my prescription said Clobetasol cream. I have that exact redness all the time, but especially bad the day after I eat a lot of sugar. This is just me, but something to consider.

    If you're already flared up (assuming it is LS), then sex is very likely to be uncomfortable. Do use lots of oily lubricant. Many here use coconut oil from the health food store.

    Hope you're better soon. Glad you came here!

  • mary_58782
    mary_58782 carmarie

    Posted

    When that happens to me, I use Desitin PASTE 40% original strength for several days. I think that the zinc oxide,etc. that soothes baby's butts also calm my areas such as you are describing. My clobetasol ointment seems to make the situation worse.
    • carmarie
      carmarie mary_58782

      Posted

      I will add this to my list of things to try thanks Mary.
  • hanny32508
    hanny32508 carmarie

    Posted

    It differs, sometimes emu oil will help, another time coconut oil does the trick.  A bit of trial and error.  But reading your writing again - I wonder whether your doctor has made the right diagnosis.  Was a biopsie done?
    • carmarie
      carmarie hanny32508

      Posted

      No biopsy I am not convinced it is LS and I told her so so she referred me to gynae to shut me up I think. I even thought it could be like hives and a food intolerance lady earlier mentioned having flare ups with sugar.
  • Charlotte1954
    Charlotte1954 carmarie

    Posted

    I have been given steriod cream and it has not helped me at all.  I have LS on my legs, feet, arms, chest , mouth and vagina.  I have had two operations to reopen my vagina and now I am going to the doctor today to see if the rebuilding surgery will help me at all.   I'm really scared of the decision we must make.  I surely hope you don't have the LS.  I had never even heard of this horrible disease until the doctor told me I have it.  The last thing is I lost a tooth to the disease recently and now I have it on my lips.  It hurts so much and I can see people look at my mouth and wonder what the heck I have on my lips.
    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 Charlotte1954

      Posted

      I'm so sorry, Charlotte.  It sounds like you have this bad.  You have it in a lot more places than a lot of us.  Are they sure that's what it is and have they biopsied?  Do you notice anything that causes flare-ups for you?  --Suzanne
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